Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Introducing 2025 Astronaut Scholar Benjamin Raufman from the University of Maryland.
Benjamin is pursuing degrees in both Chemistry and Mathematics. For the past five years, under the direction of Dr. Mary Devadas, Bejamin has investigated the synthesis and properties of inorganic nanostructures. Additionally, he spent the last two summers working under the supervision of Dr. Jian-Ying Wang to elucidate the role of non-coding RNAs in maintaining gut epithelial homeostasis. Since the spring of his freshman year, he has worked in Dr. Srinivasa Raghavan’s chemical engineering lab during academic semesters, where he collaborates with a graduate student to develop polymer-based hemostatic agents.
The University of Maryland Astronaut Scholar Award is sponsored by Jim Long and Astronauts Kathy Sullivan, Wendy Lawrence & Barbara Morgan, In Memory of Judy Resnik.
Introducing 2025 Astronaut Scholar Benjamin Raufman from the University of Maryland.
Benjamin is pursuing degrees in both Chemistry and Mathematics. For the past five years, under the direction of Dr. Mary Devadas, Bejamin has investigated the synthesis and properties of inorganic nanostructures. Additionally, he spent the last two summers working under the supervision of Dr. Jian-Ying Wang to elucidate the role of non-coding RNAs in maintaining gut epithelial homeostasis. Since the spring of his freshman year, he has worked in Dr. Srinivasa Raghavan’s chemical engineering lab during academic semesters, where he collaborates with a graduate student to develop polymer-based hemostatic agents.
The University of Maryland Astronaut Scholar Award is sponsored by Jim Long and Astronauts Kathy Sullivan, Wendy Lawrence & Barbara Morgan, In Memory of Judy Resnik.
